December 27, 2004 - Performance Vision



Skill Area: Problem Solving / Decision Quality

Skilled Behaviors:

• Uses clear logic and methods to solve difficult problems

• Looks to all options for potential solutions

• Notices hidden problems

• Excels at clear, concise analysis

• Looks at the problem from others’ points of view: doesn’t get stuck in one-sided perspective

• Doesn’t stop with the obvious first answer: continues to probe until root causes and new solutions are uncovered.

Unskilled Behaviors:

• ‘Solves’ the problem without truly finding the root cause

• May solve the wrong problem by not probing deeply enough for the correct source or cause

• Gets ‘boxed in’ to specific solutions by what has or has not worked in the past

• Doesn’t look beyond the obvious for new and innovative solutions

• Gets into ‘analysis paralysis’ – never moves to action

• Finds solutions that are most comfortable, rather than what will really work

• Spends time prioritizing low-impact tasks, rather than tasks of higher importance

Development Resources – Videos and Seminars:

• Critical Thinking and Problem Solving (University of St. Thomas, 651-962-4600, 1 day, June 23, 2005, $375)

• Decision Making and Prioritization, (University of St. Thomas, 651-962-4600, 1 day, June 10, 2005, $375)

• Systems Thinking for Managers (NTL Institute, 800-777-5227, 3 days, $1800)

• American Management Association (518-891-1500)

   ---Critical Thinking, 3 days, $1365, also CD-ROM, $295

   ---Logic: How to Think and Act Logically, 2 days, $1490

   ---Problem Solving and Decision Making, 3 days, $1295

   ---How to Use Simple Statistical Analysis to Improve Your Decision Making and Job Performance, 2 days, $1395

• Decision and Risk Analysis (Stanford Research Institute, 415-326-6200)

• Systems Thinking (Linkage, Inc., 781-402-5555, , 2 days, $1395)

Development Resources - Books:

• Edward De Bono, Tactics: The Art and Science of Success (London: Fontana/Collins, 1985)

• Barbara Minto, The Minto Pyramid Principle: Logic in Writing, Thinking and Problem Solving (Minto International, 1996)

• Ian Mitroff, Smart Thinking for Crazy Times: The Art of Solving the Right Problems (Berrett-Koehler, 1998)

• William Roth, James Ryder and Frank Voehl, Problem Solving for Results (St. Lucie Press, 1996)

On-the-job Development Activities:

• Define the real problem. Studies show that this step is the biggest factor in finding the right solution. Find out the root cause of an issue. Learn to ask why this is happening, and what led up to it. Look for patterns in the data, rather than just looking at the information.

• Test your problem-solving skills: ask someone you trust for feedback as you define a problem.

• Keep a notebook: track your biases. “When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.” As you do your analysis, track whether your solutions are similar, or whether you are truly looking at the problem objectively and seeking ‘out of the box’ solutions.

• Volunteer for a work project that will require you to define the problem, and outline an action plan to develop and execute solutions. Be sure to get a mentor or coach to offer you feedback throughout the project.

• Pause. Discipline yourself to take the time to think about root causes, rather than just jump to conclusions.

• Find a mentor who is known for their ability to think analytically, and to successfully solve problems. Ask that person to offer you constructive feedback.

• Ask others for their feedback. Even if you think you have the right answer, run it by someone else and ask for their opinion. You may learn a new approach.

• Set up a competition between two teams. Give both teams the same problem, and hold a contest to find the best solution. Judging and/or participating in the contest will help you practice good problem-solving skills and processes.

| |

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download